End-gate fastener.



G. T. NICHOLS.

BND GATE FASTBNBR. A APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 5, 1913.

1, 1 1 8, 145. Patented Nv. 24, 1914.

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.ATTORNEY THE MORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

im TED sTATEs PATENT EEoE.

GEORGE THOMAS NICHOLS, OF GAINESVILLE, TEXAS;

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5, 1913. Serial No. 771,983.

To cZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gainesville, in the coimty of Cooke and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful End-Gate Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in end gate fasteners. i

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of end gate fasteners for that class of end gates, which are composed of two hinged sections to facilitate their ready removal, and to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive end gate fastener of strong and durable construction, which will be perfectly safe in rough mountainous countries and eiectually prevent the loss of an end gate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end gate adapted to enable an end gate of this character to be conveniently applied to and removed from a ,wagon body, and capable of permitting the removal of the end gate without taking out the end gate of the top box.

It is also the object of the vinvention to provide an end gate fastener having coacting portions permanently mounted on the end gate and the sides of thev wagon body, and adapted when the end gate is removed to have the portions which are carried by the sides of the wagon body, arranged practically'out of the way so as not to obstruct the unloading of large boxesl and other articles taking up substantially the entire width of the wagon body.

llith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In thev drawing z-Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a wagon body and an end gate provided with an end gate fastener, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof thesame partly insection. Fig. 8 isl a detail view of one of the side rods.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all-the figures` of the mit the end gate when unfastened to break outwardly to enable itsend to `be readily -withdrawn from between spaced cleats t and 5 of sides 6 of a wagon body or bed 7. The main section 1 is preferably reinforced by spaced vertical cleats 8 and 9, secured to the outer or rear face of the main section at opposite sides of the center of the Patented Nome/1, 1914.

end gate, the cleat 9 being located at and slightly overlapping the main andside sections 1 and 2. v

The side section is held rigidly in alinement with the main section by a latch comprising a horizontal arm or bar 10, secured at its outer end portion 11 to the outer face of the `side section `2 at theouter .side of the vertical cleat 9 by rivets 12 or other suitable fastening devices and having its inner end portion 13 fitted against the outer face of the main section at the inner side of the said cleat. The arm or bar 10, which is rigid with the side section 2, is provided at an intermediatepoint with an outward bend 14e fitting around the cleat 9.

The inner end portion 13 of the horizontal bar or arm is detachably secured to the main section l of the end gate by a movable lock or catch, consisting of a horizontal pivot 15 andan outer approximately L- shaped crank portion, 16. TheV pivot 15 pierces the main section of the end gate and is `suitably secured in a bearing opening thereof. The inner end portion 13 ofthe arm or bar 10 is provided with a substantially circular opening 17, and it also has an entrance slot 18 communicating with .the opening and extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination from the circular opening 17 to the upper edge of the arm, whereby it is necessary to arrange the approximatelyk L-shaped crankl 16 in an upwardly inclined position and in alinement arm 10 against the main section of the end gate to lock the main and side sections l and 2 in alinement.

No claim is made in the present application to the latch for securing the sections l and 2 in alinement, as the latch forms the subject-matter of a copending application, filed Mar. l0, 1913, Serial No. 753,407.

The end gate is secured between the sides of the wagonbody by means of a main transverse rod 19, extending across the end gate to the opposite sides thereof and secured to the same by central and side loops or clips 20 secured, respectively, to the end gate and to the cleats 8 and 9. The attaching loops or clips 20 are curved to embrace the main rod, which is preferably round, and the terminals of the loops or clips are straight and are pierced by suitable fastening devices for securing them to the main section l of the end gate and to the cleats 8 and 9. The main rod is provided at the inner sides of the cleats 8 and 9 with bends 21, which permit the straight intermediate portion of the main rod to iit against the main section of the end gate, and the straight end portions of the main rod to fit against the cleats and obviating the necessity of cutting or boring the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The loops or clips, which support the main rod, form guides and permit a limited longitudinal sliding movement of the same to engage its terminals 22, which consist of hooks to engage with and disengage them from short approximately L-shaped side rods 23 and 24.

The hooks 22 of the main rod are preferably curved and extend upwardly and inwardly and are arranged in spaced parallel relation with the outer face of the end gate to enable the short side rods to extend between the end gate and the terminal portions of the main rod and to be partially rotated to swing their arms or engaging portions 25 into and out of the plane of the upturned hooks of the main rod. rlhe arms or engaging portions 25 of the short side rods are arranged to extend from the inner ends` of the same approximately at right angles thereto, and they are provided with square heads 26, but the heads may be circular or any other preferred shape.

The side rod 23 is smooth and is slidable through the adjacent side of the end gate and the adjacent cleat 4, and it is provided at its outer portion with a suitable stop preferably consisting of a cotter pin 27, eX- tending through a slot in the outer portion of the side rod 23. The outer portion of the side rod 23 may be provided with any other suitable means for engaging the side of the wagon body. The other side rod 24C extends through the adjacent side of the Wagon body and the cleat l thereof and is provided with screw threads 28, which are engaged by a tail nut 29, adapted to be screwed inwardly on the threaded portion of the side rod 24C to engage it with the outer face of the adjacent side of the wagon body and thereby place the side and end rods under the desired tension for securing the end gate between the sides of the wagon body and for preventing the latter from spreading. The threaded side rod 24- is also provided with astop consisting of a cotter pin 8O arranged in a slot in the outer portion of the said side rod 24. The cotter pin is adapted to limit the downward movement of the tail nut on the side rod 2-l to prevent the tail nut from becoming lost, but the threads may be burred at the outer end of the side rod, or any other suitable means may be employed to form a stop for the tail nut.

ln securing the end gate between the sides of the wagon body, the main rod is grasped with the right handand is moved to the left until the left hand hook-shaped terminal contacts with the adjacent side of the wagon body. rlhe left hand side rod is then partially rotated to swing its inner engaging arm downwardly and outwardly into the path of the said hook-shaped terminal of the main rod. The latter is then moved to the right to couple or interlock the said rods. rihis movement carries the engaging arm of the side rod into the curve or bend of the hook-shaped terminal. The main rod is thus grasped with the left hand and moved to the right as far as the left hand side rod will permit, and the right hand side rod, after its tail nut has been run back to the cotter pin, is moved inwardly with the right hand and rotated to swing its inner arm outwardly and downwardly into the plane of the right hand hook-shaped terminal of the main rod. rlhe tail nut may then be run up as tightly as desired, and it will draw the right hand side rod into engagement with the main rod. A reverse operation of the parts will release the end gate. The side rods are arranged in horizontally alined perforations 3l of the sides of the wagon body and the cleats a thereof, and they are located slightly above the plane of the main rod. This construction enables the main and side rods to be instantly coupled and uncoupled, and they are securely maintained in their coupled or iuterlocked relation by a single nut and when the rods are uncoupled and the end gate removed, the side rods may be drawn outwardly so as not to interfere with the unloading of the wagon body. Also the means for mounting the main and side rods on the end gate and on the wagon body permanently connect the said rods yand those parts and eifectually prevent the loss of any portion of the end gate.

What is claimed is l. rlfhe combination with a wagon body, and an end gate, of a mainv rod extending across the end gate and provided with npstanding terminal hooks, fastening means for securing the main rod to the end gate, said fastening means maintaining the terminal hooks at all times in an upstanding position and permitting a longitudinal Sliding movement of the main rod, side rods mounted on the sides of the wagon body and having a limited inward and outward movement and also a rotary movement, said side rods being provided with outstanding hooks, which are adapted to be carried into and out of the plane of the upstanding hooks of the main rod by a partial rotary movement of the side rods, the hooks of the side rods being brought into locking engagement with the hooks of the main rod by a sliding movement of the rods, and adjusting means for the said rods.

2. The combination with a wagon body, and an end gate provided with spaced cleats, of a main rod tted against the end gate between the cleats and provided adjacent to the latter with outwardly extending bends,

the terminal portions of the main rod eX- tending across the outer faces of the said cleats and having upstanding hooks, fastening means for slidably securing the main rod to the end gate and to the said cleats, said fastening means maintaining the terminal hooks at lall times in an npstanding position, and side rods mounted on the sides of the wagon body and having a limited inward and outward movement and also a rotary movement, said side rods being provided with outstanding hooks, which are adapted to be carried into and out of the plane of the upstanding hooks of the main rod by a partial rotary movement of the side rods, the hooks of the side rods being brought into locking engagement vwith the hooks ofthe main rod by a sliding movement of the rods.

ln testimony, that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS NCHOLS.

Witnesses:

J. E. HAYWORTH, JNO. MOH. MOCARTHY.

Copies o1 this patent may be obtaine for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents',

Washington, D. C. 

